[mosesbotbol]

The heat can damage any alcohol and when booze is stored up high & inside, the winter is the worst time of the year. The heat is on and heat rises.

What I think you'll find in that bottle is the aromatics are deteriorated due to time in bottle and heat. Although cognac does not “go bad”, there is a difference between fresh bottled cognac and cognac in the bottle for extended amounts of time.

All that being said, $25 for that XO is not a bad price. XO’s minimum age is just 6 years and the premier brands of cognac start at least at XO levels but do not market anything as XO as they are all beyond that. Think of what a 6 year old rum would go for? Not that much.